John Legend

John Legend is betting his career on the public's escalating disgust. "Millions of people hate what's on the radio right now," he says. "I also hate what's on the radio right now. So I've put my bet on being different." His new single couldn't be more so. "Save Room" oozes with vintage lounge soulfulness, suggesting something sung by Tom Jones in 1968. In fact, Legend swiped the song's surging organ hook from "Stormy," a hit by the Classics IV that dates back to the Nixon administration.

Recovered yet from FreeFest? (Or! Hampdenfest!) Even if the festival was only a day, the weekend felt like a long one. Maybe that's what being around all those Deadmau5 fans feels like. What did you think of the festival this year? Were there too many bugs ? Not enough porta-potties? This week, there are a couple of more festivals, but they are decidedly low-key. You probably won't find many glowsticks at the Pigtown Festival . And, Merriweather itself will host HFStiva l, which returned last year after a four-year hiatus.

Chris Brown will bring his F.A.M.E. Tour to 1st Mariner Arena on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Kelly Rowland, T-Pain and Young Money rapper Tyga will open the show for the R&B star. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. and you can get them at livenation.com , Ticketmaster outlets, the 1st Mariner Arena or by phone (800-745-3000). Brown will also be at the Verizon Center later this Fall. He last performed in Baltimore at Sonar for his Fan Appreciation tour in December 2009.

Chris Brown will bring his F.A.M.E. Tour to 1st Mariner Arena on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Kelly Rowland, T-Pain and Young Money rapper Tyga will open the show for the R&B star. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. and you can get them at livenation.com , Ticketmaster outlets, the 1st Mariner Arena or by phone (800-745-3000). Brown will also be at the Verizon Center later this Fall. He last performed in Baltimore at Sonar for his Fan Appreciation tour in December 2009.

I'M TALKING to the back of John Legend's head. We're in a car driven by a promotions guy from Columbia Records, the R&B singer's label. John chills in the passenger seat, which cramps my knees in the back. But I say nothing as we pull away from D.C.'s Hotel Helix, where I met the guys. The ride to Howard University's Cramton Auditorium, where John is due for a sound check, is a short one. The Ohio-bred singer-musician, whose blues-suffused voice belies his 25 years, arrived in town barely two hours ago. And he's scheduled to perform at the school's homecoming later tonight.

Recovered yet from FreeFest? (Or! Hampdenfest!) Even if the festival was only a day, the weekend felt like a long one. Maybe that's what being around all those Deadmau5 fans feels like. What did you think of the festival this year? Were there too many bugs ? Not enough porta-potties? This week, there are a couple of more festivals, but they are decidedly low-key. You probably won't find many glowsticks at the Pigtown Festival . And, Merriweather itself will host HFStiva l, which returned last year after a four-year hiatus.

RECORD OF THE YEAR "We Belong Together," Mariah Carey "Feel Good Inc.," Gorillaz featuring De La Soul "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," Green Day "Hollaback Girl," Gwen Stefani "Gold Digger," Kanye West MY PICK / / "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." This is one of the few bright pop-rock tracks of last year with lyrical substance and a good groove. The blistering, dramatic ending is nice, too. But Mariah Carey may snag this one, because "We Belong Together" was such a massive smash with an easy melody that resides in your head.

Rihanna might have kicked off her new tour in Baltimore first, but when Sade does it Thursday, it'll be a more momentous occasion in several ways. The singer is notoriously reclusive. Between her 2000 album, "Lovers Rock," and her latest, "Soldier of Love," which was released last year, she's been off the grid. This tour will be her first in nearly a decade. In addition to the tour and the new album, a new greatest-hits package was also released this year that includes three tracks never released before.

THEATER 'One-Man Star Wars Trilogy': Being able to recite Star Wars dialogue verbatim is a common affliction of the nerd population. But Canadian actor Charles Ross takes the practice into hyperdrive. In Baltimore for a two-week run, Ross' off-Broadway hit re-creates all the characters, sound effects and even John Williams' score with nothing but some lights and elbow pads. Opens 8 p.m. Tuesday at Center Stage. For more: centerstage.org DVD Heath Ledger: in 'The Dark Knight': Despite what the fanboys say, this Batman flick is not the best movie ever made.

Rihanna might have kicked off her new tour in Baltimore first, but when Sade does it Thursday, it'll be a more momentous occasion in several ways. The singer is notoriously reclusive. Between her 2000 album, "Lovers Rock," and her latest, "Soldier of Love," which was released last year, she's been off the grid. This tour will be her first in nearly a decade. In addition to the tour and the new album, a new greatest-hits package was also released this year that includes three tracks never released before.

THEATER 'One-Man Star Wars Trilogy': Being able to recite Star Wars dialogue verbatim is a common affliction of the nerd population. But Canadian actor Charles Ross takes the practice into hyperdrive. In Baltimore for a two-week run, Ross' off-Broadway hit re-creates all the characters, sound effects and even John Williams' score with nothing but some lights and elbow pads. Opens 8 p.m. Tuesday at Center Stage. For more: centerstage.org DVD Heath Ledger: in 'The Dark Knight': Despite what the fanboys say, this Batman flick is not the best movie ever made.

John Legend is betting his career on the public's escalating disgust. "Millions of people hate what's on the radio right now," he says. "I also hate what's on the radio right now. So I've put my bet on being different." His new single couldn't be more so. "Save Room" oozes with vintage lounge soulfulness, suggesting something sung by Tom Jones in 1968. In fact, Legend swiped the song's surging organ hook from "Stormy," a hit by the Classics IV that dates back to the Nixon administration.

The Irish rock band U2 cemented its position atop the music universe last night as the band swept the 48th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, winning five awards, including album of the year and song of the year. "This is really a big, big night for our band," said lead singer Bono, in a leather jacket and white cowboy hat. "There's always the possibility with rock music that it might just amount to a little more than entertainment, on occasion, and you might be able to communicate some honest feelings."

RECORD OF THE YEAR "We Belong Together," Mariah Carey "Feel Good Inc.," Gorillaz featuring De La Soul "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," Green Day "Hollaback Girl," Gwen Stefani "Gold Digger," Kanye West MY PICK / / "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." This is one of the few bright pop-rock tracks of last year with lyrical substance and a good groove. The blistering, dramatic ending is nice, too. But Mariah Carey may snag this one, because "We Belong Together" was such a massive smash with an easy melody that resides in your head.

The Irish rock band U2 cemented its position atop the music universe last night as the band swept the 48th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, winning five awards, including album of the year and song of the year. "This is really a big, big night for our band," said lead singer Bono, in a leather jacket and white cowboy hat. "There's always the possibility with rock music that it might just amount to a little more than entertainment, on occasion, and you might be able to communicate some honest feelings."

Russell Banks demonstrates his passionate grasp of the braided history of race and class in America in his newest novel, "Cloudsplitter" (HarperFlamingo, 758 pp., $27.50), a retelling of the saga of the controversial pre-Civil War abolitionist John Brown.Brown and his small army of sons and believers tried to start a slave insurrection in the 1850s and died, depending upon your perspective, martyrs or fools or murderers.It is neither a pretty story nor a short one, and "Cloudsplitter" isn't, either; the novel marches through the two decades preceding Brown's raid at Harpers Ferry, in what was then Virginia, in October 1859, which resulted in his execution for treason six weeks later.

I'M TALKING to the back of John Legend's head. We're in a car driven by a promotions guy from Columbia Records, the R&B singer's label. John chills in the passenger seat, which cramps my knees in the back. But I say nothing as we pull away from D.C.'s Hotel Helix, where I met the guys. The ride to Howard University's Cramton Auditorium, where John is due for a sound check, is a short one. The Ohio-bred singer-musician, whose blues-suffused voice belies his 25 years, arrived in town barely two hours ago. And he's scheduled to perform at the school's homecoming later tonight.

Russell Banks demonstrates his passionate grasp of the braided history of race and class in America in his newest novel, "Cloudsplitter" (HarperFlamingo, 758 pp., $27.50), a retelling of the saga of the controversial pre-Civil War abolitionist John Brown.Brown and his small army of sons and believers tried to start a slave insurrection in the 1850s and died, depending upon your perspective, martyrs or fools or murderers.It is neither a pretty story nor a short one, and "Cloudsplitter" isn't, either; the novel marches through the two decades preceding Brown's raid at Harpers Ferry, in what was then Virginia, in October 1859, which resulted in his execution for treason six weeks later.